Is 4 USB ports enough ???

[NVRENUF!]

I only use 1 and that's for my Logitech keyboard wireless.

Other wise everything else is network, Time machine, nas, printer,

so it only random times i plug usb sticks in or something.

4 is fine

 

[boto]

I recently purchased THIS Uspeed 4-port usb 3.0 hub and I absolutely love it. Not only is it stylish but it is amazingly small, a little smaller than a deck of cards. My only gripe about this product is the cables that come along. They are way too long, causing cable cluttering around my surge protector outlets.

 

[vsighi]

In case you guys need one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1JM0FD2481

 

[mihai.ile]

Or you could just use the Apple extended wired keyboard that consumes one usb port from the iMac but it provides 2 usb2.0 ports on either side of the keyboard which I find it just perfect to connect the logitech mouse usb adapter for example and have the other usb free for easy plugging/unplugging usb drives (yes, usb2 speed but for most of things enough and very easy since the connector is just right there on the keyboard)

 

[bflowers]

I posted something similar in another thread a few days ago, when someone said we have plenty of ports to plug an external ODD in.

Mine:
•superdrive
•2x 3TB HDDs USB3
•1x 1.5TB HDD that was Firewire, but I'll have to use the USB2 port or buy a TB adapter.
•wireless mouse for some applications (when not using Magic Trackpad) not bluetooth, so it has it's own base
•camera, or the card reader, because constantly using a rear mounted SD slot is going to be a pain
•countless USB flash drives
•all in one printer (prints wirelessly, but needs USB to scan on the Mac)
•older Apple extended keyboard - for banking and balancing the checkbook. The current wireless keyboard doesnt have the number pad

I'll probably find a USB3 hub, so all the constant items (like HDDs can be on a shelf further from the computer itself, and leave them plugged in all the time. Then I can plug the other items in as needed without cluttering the desktop itself.

 

[rcp27]

I would suggest that if you are happy to use the Apple wireless keyboard and pointing devices (either mouse or trackpad or both), or some other bluetooth (which is built in so no need for a USB dongle) non-apple solution for keyboard/mouse, and you don't have specialist needs from hobbies or job that mean you are loaded up with specialist USB kit, then 4 is plenty. At home I have (on my pre-thunderbolt and pre-USB3 iMac) 1 USB taken by a 30 pin iPod/Pad/Phone cable, one taken by the USB cable for my camera and one taken by a USB drive for external storage, with one spare for things like thumb drive use or other occasional purposes. My printer/scanner is on the network (but such a device could live on the 4th port if need be).

 

[OlMighty]

Hmmm hadn't thought about there not being enough, if anything I'd thought that 4 was too many.

But having said that, even if you're wireless for most things, once you've added that optical drive, iPhone, ext HDD, numerical keyboard, you do start running out. Think a hub would definitely be necessary.

Does the wired keyboard still come with two?

 

[JustMartin]

Hmmm hadn't thought about there not being enough, if anything I'd thought that 4 was too many.

But having said that, even if you're wireless for most things, once you've added that optical drive, iPhone, ext HDD, numerical keyboard, you do start running out. Think a hub would definitely be necessary.

Does the wired keyboard still come with two?

Wired keyboard comes with two, but they can't be used to power anything

 

[randy98mtu]

Hmmm hadn't thought about there not being enough, if anything I'd thought that 4 was too many.

But having said that, even if you're wireless for most things, once you've added that optical drive, iPhone, ext HDD, numerical keyboard, you do start running out. Think a hub would definitely be necessary.

Does the wired keyboard still come with two?

Yes, but they are non powered. So a bus powered external won't work. And it won't charge your iDevices... I never use them except maybe a thumb drive, which I never use anyway.

 

[JustMartin]

I used D-link Dub-H7, it's a powered USB2 thing that has been very well behaved. I'll carry that over to the new Mac and of course will have to have a spare connector on there for the new ODD.

Current USB Connection

Flash Drive
Passport hard disk
Garmin Antenna (connects my running computer)
IPod Touch
Shuffle
Audio Interface
Camera
Wired Keyboard (so I can have delete key and numeric pad)

I could get by with less ports if I wasn't so lazy about unplugging devices

 

[Ddyracer]

USB hub takes up space and money inside the iMac too.

Sure, but would apple charge extra for it? I think they can squeeze it in, especially now that the ODD is gone. Believe me, if Apple sees benefit in some thing they will do it regardless of the journey.

And i think this is crucial.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

USB hub takes up space and money inside the iMac too.

Hardly. While the chipset the new iMac uses (the Z77) has 4 USB 3.0 ports natively, it can support up to 10 additional USB 2.0 ports without any modifications, and they would work just perfectly for scanners, printers, mice, keyboards, iPods, and whatever else (except HDD's) that you can think of.

Or Apple could have always opted to not use such a low end board:

For many low-end boards, this eliminates the cost of a controller from the product. For high end SKUs that typically have 4-6+ USB 3.0 ports, while it does reduce the number of controllers by two, some PCB real estate will still be utilized by USB 3.0 controllers.[link]

 

[WilliamDu]

USB hubs no big deal

Lots of Mac users (like me) over the years have accumulated assorted stuff like printers, scanners, joysticks, hard drives, etc. that don't have wireless capability, and add up one way or another to more than four. Apple has never produced a Mac with enough USB ports for some of us.

Amazon sells powered USB 3.0 hubs from four to seven ports ranging from $23 to $50, which should be enough as a single unit for most users. With the need to rip large CD libraries aggravated by Apple's silly itch for "thin" removing the ODD, that's one more port needed. Apple will make a few more billions from those of us lazy enough to just order their Superdrive along with the iMac and the Crucial RAM.

It's their usual arrogance deciding that no one needs an ODD in their AIO costing some of us another few bucks and another cable required until someone comes up with a Bluetooth CD ripper. There is some justification for outboard ODDs. I've had trouble with the built in ODD in my wife's mid 2010 iMac and my ancient PowerMac G5 tower, and it's a pain to have to carry the whole box to the shop.

Bite the bullet, buy a hub, and give up bitching at Apple. It's done. I've had two four port Belkin hubs for six years gathering dust in the cable nest on the floor behind my computer desk. When my 27" arrives next spring after the early buyer beta testers have done their thing, I'll replace my two old USB 2 hubs with a shiny new 7 port 3.0 hub for $49 or less as the market grows. They're backward compatible with USB 2 for old gadgets.